Newport Beach is a coastal city that rests on beautiful Balboa Bay and combines 10 interconnected neighborhoods. I’ve spent most of my time on Balboa Peninsula, which juts into the Pacific and delivers a surfer-friendly vibe. Balboa Island, ritzy Corona del Mar, and Fashion Island, a long-time shopping Mecca with high-profile restaurants from nearby L.A. and San Diego, are also notable neighborhoods. Find my favorite Newport Beach places to eat or drink, listed alphabetically.

UPDATES SINCE NOVEMBER 14, 2014
Additions: Huskins Coffee, Mario’s Neighborhood Butcher Shop & Delicatessen, Sgt. Pepperoni’s Pizza Store, Skål Pizza, Stereoscope Coffee, Sugar ‘n Spice, Vacancy Coffee
Subtractions: Crow Bar and Kitchen [CLOSED], Juliette Kitchen & Bar [CLOSED], ’lette macarons/strong> [CLOSED], Pizzeria Mozza [CLOSED], PorroVita [CLOSED]

A&O Kitchen + Bar
MUST ORDER: Chicken Wings, Shishito Peppers, Craft Beer

The name of this retooled gastropub expands to Anchors & Oceans, which is fitting considering their patio overlooks a bucolic bay and passing yachts. The space features nautical knot and diver helmet chandeliers, wood tables, and rattan chairs. Executive chef Vincent Lesage and chef de cuisine Rachel Haggstrom preside over an ambitious comfort food menu, which could either deliver a fun snack or full meal, depending on whether you’d like to limit to consumption to happy hour or not. Their share-friendly menu delivers playful twists on popular dishes, along with “hangover” beer floats and “tempting” desserts. You can also keep matters simple, grabbing a bucket of wings and tantalizing craft beer on tap.

Bamboo Bistro
MUST ORDER: Grilled Pork Spring Rolls “New Nuong,” Sizzling Sole

Brodard is a Little Saigon juggernaut thanks to the Dang family, who immigrated from Nha Trang in 1987. Matriarch Diane Dang founded Brodard in 1996, and led the growth from humble bakery into thriving restaurant. She still presides over the popular Mall of Fortune destination, Daughter Lisa Dang-Vo helms Brodard Chateau in Garden Grove, and daughter Chau Dang-Haller runs Bamboo Bistro in Corona del Mar, which has yellow walls, bamboo accents and Buddha imagery. Yes, there’s a varied menu of Vietnamese comfort food, but Brodard is the house that spring rolls built. They total nine types of rolls, including Soft Shell Crab Spring Rolls, Fresh Seared Fresh Ahi Spring Rolls, Roasted Duck Spring Rolls and an enduring classic, Grilled Pork Spring Rolls, which tout crunchy wonton piping and come with a magical orange dipping sauce crafted with chiles, peanuts, garlic, fish sauce, ground meat and more.

Bluefin
MUST ORDER: Sushi Omakase, Melon Float

Chef Takashi Abe and business partner Ted Lee have turned this Crystal Cove Shopping Center restaurant into a destination for sushi lovers due to their often creative preparations of pristine seafood. The sleek space is also a draw, with banquette seating and a sushi bar for people who choose to be closer to the action. Chefs work out in the open, backed by a cascading  water wall. Bluefin serves a la carte sushi and progressive prepared dishes like Halibut Cheek with almond, panko, and honey mustard beet sauce. Begin your path to Bluefin understanding with Sushi Omakase, which starts at $65 during dinner service (less at lunch) and delivers 13 pieces of sushi along with a roll. The selection is dealer’s choice, but if you’re lucky, Chef Abe and his team will present golden eye snapper with sea salt, grated yuzu, and a squeeze of lemon; silky sea scallop, served the same way; uni with sea salt and lemon; and sweet Russian King crab with a nori belt.

Eat Chow
MUST ORDER: Breakfast BLTA, Coffee

Eat Chow’s second branch resides on Newport Beach’s northern fringe and builds on the success of the Costa Mesa original, which focuses on comfort food. Co-founder Eric Doran tragically passed away in a car accident, but partner Brian McReynolds persists with Amy Curran and Francisco Perez. Their new space is tucked away off PCH, with a stucco front, big red EAT letters on wall, and skylights. For lunch and dinner, Eat Chow serves supercharged versions of classics like the patty melt and sloppy joe, plus an array of burgers, salads and more. Breakfast may be where Eat Chow shines brightest, with a mix of Americana and Mexicana. Breakfast sandwiches are a particular strength. So is the coffee, which comes from Intelligentsia.

Huskins Coffee
MUST ORDER: Shaken Espresso

Kean Coffee
MUST ORDER: Turkish Latte, Shakerato, Coffee

Martin Diedrich remains Orange County’s specialty coffee Grand Poobah. The third generation coffee professional grew up on his family’s coffee farm in the Guatemalan highlands. He founded Diedrich Coffee, and one year after selling his interest in that successful chain, resurfaced in Newport Beach with wife Karen, naming their indie coffeehouse for son Kean. The original Kean Coffee is still going strong, with a European setting that includes mottled yellow walls, limestone plaster flourishes, hand-painted glass lamps from Venice, Italy, and a red coffee roaster crafted by Martin’s brother Stephan. Kean’s menu now includes signature ice-blended drinks like the Blueberry Buzz and Red Monkey, but generally, they keep things simple, with Italianate espresso drinks, single origin brewed coffee, and a small pastry selection.

Mario’s Butcher Shop
MUST ORDER: Italian Sandwich

Sessions West Coast Deli
MUST ORDER: Mad Dog, Wake & Bake, Kean Coffee

This neighborhood spot on Balboa Peninsula from Matt Meddock, Max Schlutz and Beckham Thomas features reclaimed wood, Astroturf and Tetris-like walls, drop down Edison bulbs, and surf videos playing on screen. One motto is “Sun’s Out, Buns Out,” so of course sandwiches dominate. They take a global view of the flavor spectrum, and keep comfort as a central tenet, no matter the influence. 12-inch hot dogs get the deluxe treatment, and breakfast sandwiches get a lot of love as well. Throughout the day, they brew Kean Coffee and make espresso drinks using a La Marzocco machine.

Sgt. Pepperoni’s Pizza Store
MUST ORDER: Pepperoni Pizza, Cheese Pizza

Skål Pizza
MUST ORDER: Carrots, Charred Ranch Salad, Kale Caesar Salad, Saffron Miso Pasta

SOL Cocina
MUST ORDER: Taco Vampiro, Coconut Calamari, Nachos Dulce

Dock & Dine at this waterfront Baja-style restaurant from Deborah Schneider, who’s already expanded to Scottsdale and is destined for L.A. County. The space features marina views, brown cushioned booths, candelabra chandeliers, birdcage wall sconces, a bustling bar with high-top tables, and an open kitchen with a handsome copper hood. Schneider found inspiration on surf trips to Baja, including “wood-grilled tacos and fresh seafood cocktels and ceviches at tiny roadside stands.” She’s working to evoke the same low-key feeling in higher end Newport Beach with a menu that is by no means limited to tacos and ceviche.

Stereoscope Coffee
MUST ORDER: Single Origin Espresso

Sugar ‘n Spice
MUST ORDER: Frozen Bananas

Vacancy Coffee
MUST ORDER: Iced Coffee, Iced Matcha Latte

WHAT TO DO BETWEEN MEALS (shoutout to A.J. Liebling)

Newport Beach Civic Center Park Sculpture Exhibition

Newport Pier Sunset (or Sunrise)

Thanks Visit Newport Beach and the Balboa Bay Resort for supporting my 2014 Newport Beach culinary explorations.